On March 21 everyone within Ohio’s 740 area code will have to add that three-digit code in order to complete their phone calls. And in April there will be a second area code-220-within the current 740 area.

“Since September we’ve had ‘permissive calling’ in effect, encouraging people to practice adding the area code when they dial within the 740 area,” said Matt Schilling, public information officer with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).

During that time callers in the 740 area could choose to use the area code or dial the seven-digit number without the area code and still complete the call.

“But starting March 21, if you’re dialing within the current 740 area, you’ll have to dial 740 for the call to go through,” Schilling said, adding that three-digit emergency numbers like 911, 411 or 211, will not require the area code.

He said callers who forget to use the area code will be prompted to do so before they can complete their calls.

“And in early April people signing up for new phone service will have a 220 area code assigned to their phone numbers,” he said.

Schilling said the reason for the changes is that the PUCO is running out of phone numbers that can be placed under the 740 code, so the new 220 area code is being implemented at this time.

“Across the country there are currently 681 available area codes and 378 of those are being used,” he said. “At some time in the future, possibly decades from now, the country will use up those area codes, and a new system will be required.”

He said the PUCO and area telephone service carriers are stepping up a campaign to make consumers aware of the changes. The 740 area code includes all of Southeast Ohio.

Cell phones, as well as land lines, will be impacted by the change, Schilling said.

“Some cell phones will require re-programming of numbers to add the area code,” he said. “We recommend contacting your cell phone carrier to determine if re-programming is necessary.”

Jeff Lauer, director of the Washington County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), said although three-digit emergency numbers won’t be impacted, some confusion could result as the new 220 area code is added.

And Lauer said he’ll have to re-program speed-dial numbers on the two cell phones he carries to include the area code.

“I have lots of contacts on my EMA phones for which I just have to hit ‘send,’ now I’ll have to do some re-programming,” he said. “So I can see this being a temporary problem for some cell phone users.”

Marietta Police Chief Rod Hupp said the change shouldn’t have much of an effect on the department’s phone system.

“And it would be much more of a concern if we didn’t have a 911 system for emergencies,” he said. “We still receive some calls on the department’s former 740-373-4141 emergency number, so maybe this will help encourage more of those people to use 911.”

Washington County Commissioner Rick Walters said the change isn’t likely to have a huge impact on the county courthouse phone system.

“But the biggest issue may be for some older folks who have land lines that are programmed to call seven-digit numbers and will have to be reprogrammed with 10-digit numbers,” he said.

Sheriff Larry Mincks said he’ll have to re-program his cell phone due to the change, and he anticipates some confusion for callers at first.

“It will take some time for people to get used to dialing 10 numbers instead of seven,” he said. “But it will work out eventually.”

Sylvi Caporale, co-owner with husband Jim, of American Flags & Poles on Front Street, said their business phones are already programmed with area codes from across the country.

“And we began programming the local area code into our phones early on, anticipating this change,” she said.

East of Chicago Pizza Manager and owner Tim Myers also said he didn’t anticipate a lot of problems from the phone number change.

“People will just have to make sure they put the local area code in first when they call,” he said.